Part Twelve
The cheerleaders and Maria pulled up into the parking lot. There was 20 minutes to game time. The team pulled in behind them. Kyle stared at Maria, as they walked in and this time she didn't avoid his gaze. She nodded once, her face unsmiling and he grinned happily at her concession, before she disappeared into the girl's locker room to change into a catsuit, the same colours as the team and cheerleaders uniforms. Maria and the cheerleaders had debated the use of a uniform but finally decided against it, wanting her to stand out during the routine.
She wasn't going on till half time so she changed with the others, and then put on a long leather jacket, covering up the catsuit almost completely and left to sit in the court. Outside the stands were already full and with 5 minutes to go, she took her seat.
Maria felt eyes on her, and unsurprised she caught sight of ex-friends sitting in the front row, diagonally opposite her. She ignored them and concentrated on cheering the game. It was a close game but it was obvious that West Roswell would win, Kyle being in top form.
Five minutes before half time, Maria rose and curious eyes watched her walk to the edge of the room into the doorway that led to the locker room. She didn't re-emerge until the bell went and the team left. Three seconds later, the speakers went on and the music started.
And it began. With the cheerleaders, surrounding her, Maria walked in, a microphone in her hand. The crowd loved her. She led the cheerleaders in a quick, energetic dance routine belting out the words in a non-stop fast paced performance worthy of an MTV appearance. The end of the song was equally dramatic with the chorus fading, the cheerleaders following her moved towards the door in one motion and Maria disappeared. There was silence and then the crowd stood, screaming.
The game began immediately after, and when a well deserved victory was achieved, the cheerleaders took centre court again. To the beat of the music, they started the second routine. From behind the gym doors, Maria's clear voice was heard. The school, already high after the victory yelled as she walked out, holding the mike.
The song began slow and soft, but as Maria reached the front, the tempo picked up and the cheerleaders and her began to move in unison. Their second song ended amidst cheers.
"Maria Deluca," the head cheerleader announced taking the mike, and Maria stood there slightly out of breathe.
She had given everything into her performance, all her anger, hurt and insecurity - all poured into the routine and forgotten for those few minutes that she was centre stage. Her life didn't exist at that moment, just the song and the energy, the dance. But now as she listened to the cheers, her eyes as always moved to her friends and in the loud cheering room, from across the room her eyes met Michael's and suddenly everything else faded away and grew silent. There was nothing besides her and Michael - their eyes locked.
It took one of the cheerleaders tapping her lightly on the arm for her to release his gaze. She smiled her thanks to the crowd, shyly now that there was no music to distract, and stood there with other cheerleaders and the team as the school celebrated the victory.
"We have a surprise for you, Maria," Cindy said into the mike and the crowd silenced and waited for her to continue. "There are some people here who would like to say something to you." Whispers broke out as everyone guessed what the surprise was.
Just then, music began to play - the sounds of a guitar, a live guitar. Everyone shut up and straightened to see if Maria was going to perform again. She wasn't. From the back, three guys walked in all carrying the musical instruments they were playing. Maria turned to look with the rest of school and recognised the members of the Whits.
She glanced back to where Alex, and the rest were sitting during the game but they weren't there anymore. Then she looked to the side, searching for them - sure that they weren't not just going to leave. All day she had this feeling that they were planning something. It was the collective gasp from the school that had her turning her attention behind her. She turned around and her mouth fell open in shock.
Michael, stood there a microphone in his hand - the same one she had just given up. He opened his mouth and to Maria's complete and utter amazement began to sing, his eyes firmly attached to hers.
I know I was wrong
for treating you the way I did (the way I did)
I have so much on my mind
I didn't know where you fit in (where you fit in)
and if I could do it all over again (again)
I'll never treat you that way
(I'll never treat you that way again)
I apologise for the pain that I caused
and I just wanna say (I just wanna say)
His voice trailed of, as she stared in shock. The rest of the school stood spellbound. His voice wasn't half bad. Before she had time to react, Max took the microphone from Michael and picked up where Michael left off. Maria tore her gaze away from her ex-boyfriend to stare at one of her former best friends. Max's expression asked, no begged for forgiveness.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did (I didn't mean it baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
With Liz, Isabel and Tess singing in the background, Alex and Kyle sang the next verse
When I close my eyes
I think of how it used to be (used to be)
that's when I realised
just how much you mean to me (you mean to me)
a second chance is all that I need (I need)
to change what's wrong and make it right
(to change what's wrong and make it right)
a fool I was to let you slip away (away)
when I know I need you in my life (need you in my life)
and Liz took the chorus alone. Maria's eyes swung from one to the next as the song went on. They looked nervous, slightly hopeful and very apologetic as the words came out.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
Michael began to sing again, with Kyle doing the background.
And I know everytime (everytime)
everytime I treated you unkind (so unkind)
you still gave your best to me (to me)
I'll do anything to get you back in to my life
I need to hold you again (hold you)
kiss you again (kiss you)
make love to you (love you)
and I'll do it again (to you)
listen to me (listen to me)
I'm down on my knees (down on my knees)
can we start over again (can we start over)
They all finished singing the chorus together.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
you got believe me when I say that
I'm sorry (so sorry)
so sorry
for treating you (for treating you the way I did)
I'll never hurt you again
I'm sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you ( for leaving you the way I did)
I'm sorry baby
She wasn't the only one following the group with her eyes. The school did too, overcome with curiosity as to what they did that required her forgiveness - what was so bad that a notorious loner, and a group, despite their popularity generally avoided the public eye as much as possible. They also watched Maria, waiting for her reaction.
Maria didn't know what to do. She was so mad at them, yet at the same time she couldn't help feeling slightly flattered and forgiving that all of them were willing to do this for her. Michael held out his hand, hopefully and she reached out to meet it, without even realising it. Just as their fingertips touched, the sparks that she always felt shocked her into reality and she remembered - she snatched her hands away, and swallowed her own disappointment. She didn't look at Michael's eyes, knowing if she saw them one more time she would just give in and run into his arms.
As she avoided his eyes her glance met Liz's and her part of her heart broke all over when she saw the pain and hope in Liz's eyes. She couldn't deal with this now - she wasn't ready. Maria began to back away slightly. Seeing this, the group knew they were losing her, they began to move closer to her.
It was at that moment, in the absolute silence of the gym while all watched and waited for the reaction from Maria that the door opened. The sound was loud and with it, heads whipped around to see who dared disturb the entertainment. A guy walked in.
End part 12
The cheerleaders and Maria pulled up into the parking lot. There was 20 minutes to game time. The team pulled in behind them. Kyle stared at Maria, as they walked in and this time she didn't avoid his gaze. She nodded once, her face unsmiling and he grinned happily at her concession, before she disappeared into the girl's locker room to change into a catsuit, the same colours as the team and cheerleaders uniforms. Maria and the cheerleaders had debated the use of a uniform but finally decided against it, wanting her to stand out during the routine.
She wasn't going on till half time so she changed with the others, and then put on a long leather jacket, covering up the catsuit almost completely and left to sit in the court. Outside the stands were already full and with 5 minutes to go, she took her seat.
Maria felt eyes on her, and unsurprised she caught sight of ex-friends sitting in the front row, diagonally opposite her. She ignored them and concentrated on cheering the game. It was a close game but it was obvious that West Roswell would win, Kyle being in top form.
Five minutes before half time, Maria rose and curious eyes watched her walk to the edge of the room into the doorway that led to the locker room. She didn't re-emerge until the bell went and the team left. Three seconds later, the speakers went on and the music started.
And it began. With the cheerleaders, surrounding her, Maria walked in, a microphone in her hand. The crowd loved her. She led the cheerleaders in a quick, energetic dance routine belting out the words in a non-stop fast paced performance worthy of an MTV appearance. The end of the song was equally dramatic with the chorus fading, the cheerleaders following her moved towards the door in one motion and Maria disappeared. There was silence and then the crowd stood, screaming.
The game began immediately after, and when a well deserved victory was achieved, the cheerleaders took centre court again. To the beat of the music, they started the second routine. From behind the gym doors, Maria's clear voice was heard. The school, already high after the victory yelled as she walked out, holding the mike.
The song began slow and soft, but as Maria reached the front, the tempo picked up and the cheerleaders and her began to move in unison. Their second song ended amidst cheers.
"Maria Deluca," the head cheerleader announced taking the mike, and Maria stood there slightly out of breathe.
She had given everything into her performance, all her anger, hurt and insecurity - all poured into the routine and forgotten for those few minutes that she was centre stage. Her life didn't exist at that moment, just the song and the energy, the dance. But now as she listened to the cheers, her eyes as always moved to her friends and in the loud cheering room, from across the room her eyes met Michael's and suddenly everything else faded away and grew silent. There was nothing besides her and Michael - their eyes locked.
It took one of the cheerleaders tapping her lightly on the arm for her to release his gaze. She smiled her thanks to the crowd, shyly now that there was no music to distract, and stood there with other cheerleaders and the team as the school celebrated the victory.
"We have a surprise for you, Maria," Cindy said into the mike and the crowd silenced and waited for her to continue. "There are some people here who would like to say something to you." Whispers broke out as everyone guessed what the surprise was.
Just then, music began to play - the sounds of a guitar, a live guitar. Everyone shut up and straightened to see if Maria was going to perform again. She wasn't. From the back, three guys walked in all carrying the musical instruments they were playing. Maria turned to look with the rest of school and recognised the members of the Whits.
She glanced back to where Alex, and the rest were sitting during the game but they weren't there anymore. Then she looked to the side, searching for them - sure that they weren't not just going to leave. All day she had this feeling that they were planning something. It was the collective gasp from the school that had her turning her attention behind her. She turned around and her mouth fell open in shock.
Michael, stood there a microphone in his hand - the same one she had just given up. He opened his mouth and to Maria's complete and utter amazement began to sing, his eyes firmly attached to hers.
I know I was wrong
for treating you the way I did (the way I did)
I have so much on my mind
I didn't know where you fit in (where you fit in)
and if I could do it all over again (again)
I'll never treat you that way
(I'll never treat you that way again)
I apologise for the pain that I caused
and I just wanna say (I just wanna say)
His voice trailed of, as she stared in shock. The rest of the school stood spellbound. His voice wasn't half bad. Before she had time to react, Max took the microphone from Michael and picked up where Michael left off. Maria tore her gaze away from her ex-boyfriend to stare at one of her former best friends. Max's expression asked, no begged for forgiveness.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did (I didn't mean it baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
With Liz, Isabel and Tess singing in the background, Alex and Kyle sang the next verse
When I close my eyes
I think of how it used to be (used to be)
that's when I realised
just how much you mean to me (you mean to me)
a second chance is all that I need (I need)
to change what's wrong and make it right
(to change what's wrong and make it right)
a fool I was to let you slip away (away)
when I know I need you in my life (need you in my life)
and Liz took the chorus alone. Maria's eyes swung from one to the next as the song went on. They looked nervous, slightly hopeful and very apologetic as the words came out.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
Michael began to sing again, with Kyle doing the background.
And I know everytime (everytime)
everytime I treated you unkind (so unkind)
you still gave your best to me (to me)
I'll do anything to get you back in to my life
I need to hold you again (hold you)
kiss you again (kiss you)
make love to you (love you)
and I'll do it again (to you)
listen to me (listen to me)
I'm down on my knees (down on my knees)
can we start over again (can we start over)
They all finished singing the chorus together.
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for treating you the way I did
(I didn't mean to hurt you baby)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry)
so sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you the way I did
you got believe me when I say that
I'm sorry (so sorry)
so sorry
for treating you (for treating you the way I did)
I'll never hurt you again
I'm sorry (so sorry)
for leaving you ( for leaving you the way I did)
I'm sorry baby
She wasn't the only one following the group with her eyes. The school did too, overcome with curiosity as to what they did that required her forgiveness - what was so bad that a notorious loner, and a group, despite their popularity generally avoided the public eye as much as possible. They also watched Maria, waiting for her reaction.
Maria didn't know what to do. She was so mad at them, yet at the same time she couldn't help feeling slightly flattered and forgiving that all of them were willing to do this for her. Michael held out his hand, hopefully and she reached out to meet it, without even realising it. Just as their fingertips touched, the sparks that she always felt shocked her into reality and she remembered - she snatched her hands away, and swallowed her own disappointment. She didn't look at Michael's eyes, knowing if she saw them one more time she would just give in and run into his arms.
As she avoided his eyes her glance met Liz's and her part of her heart broke all over when she saw the pain and hope in Liz's eyes. She couldn't deal with this now - she wasn't ready. Maria began to back away slightly. Seeing this, the group knew they were losing her, they began to move closer to her.
It was at that moment, in the absolute silence of the gym while all watched and waited for the reaction from Maria that the door opened. The sound was loud and with it, heads whipped around to see who dared disturb the entertainment. A guy walked in.
End part 12